as im sure some of you have seen, i am having a problem with determining if my truck is an fx4 or not.

the truck was manufactured in september of 2001 and sold as an 02 model with the new body styling. the dealer i bought it used from had fx4 offroad package listed as one of the features. i do have a manual tranny, 4.0, and 4.10 LS 8.8" rear end. one distinguishing feature is the shift on the fly ***. does this automatically mean i dont have an fx4 and its just an xlt 4x4? is there any surefire way that i can tell if i do or dont have an fx4? this issue has really been bugging me.

also a bit off topic. there is a newer fx4 at my school. it is an 03 or 04 but i noticed today that it was an automatic. it has the fx4 sticker but those can be bought elsewhere. does it being an automatic make it not an fx4?

 

I have an 02 with auto tranny and its an FX4

 

If you have an 02 with a manual transmission and an Electonic Shift-on-the-Fly transfer case ****, it is not an FX4. All 2002 FX4 manuals had two chrome shift levers on the floor.

FX4s and FX4 Level II's have always been available as manual or automatic.
All automatics have had the electronic transfer case. 2004-on manuals also have the electronic T/C. The 2002 FX4 manuals and the 2003 FX4 Level II manuals had twin shifters and a manual transfer case.

 

Mmm, think Ford could have made this any more confusing if they tried!? (Or maybe they did try!)

As is my understanding:
Through 2002 they had the Off Road Package (ORP), which was basically a mildly pumped up XLT 4x4. 4.0L, 4x4, clutch-pack type LS in an 8.8" rear, etc etc. I am not sure, but I think it had skid plates too. This is basically what we call the FX4 today.

In 2002 they introduced the 'FX4' package which has the special torsen LS, shipped w/ 31x10.5" BFG ATs on special Alcoa aluminum wheels, had the Blistens and a few other trim goodies. Autos had the same electronic shift on the fly 4x4 system as the rest of the Rangers, but the manual had the fancy chrome shifters and a manual transfer case. It is also shift on the fly (2Hi <-> 4Hi) but is a lever and is not electronic.

In 2003 they changed the name from 'FX4' to 'FX4 Level II'. That same year they started the confusuion by renaming the ORP to 'FX4'. Equipment for both models remained pretty much unchanged despite the renaming.

Starting in 2004 they removed the manual transfer case from the LII package. From that point to today ALL trucks have had the electronic-shift transfer case, regardless of equipment or package. Although FX4 LII's w/ the manual trans still have the chrome trans shifter. They just have one chrome stick instead of two.

I'm told that the name change was done to bring the Ranger product names in-line w/ the F-150 package designations. In the F-150 they also have an FX4 package, although it does not have many of the more 'trick' parts of the Ranger LII package. Rather than have confusion between the uber trick Ranger FX4 and not-so-trick F-150 FX4 they changed the Ranger package names. Of course that leads to confusion both for us enthusiasts AND for the service guys. Cant' tell you HOW MANY TIMES I've had them confused as to how stock my truck is.

In 2003 I found the price difference between the FX4 and the FX4 Level II Ranger packages was about $1k. Considering the add-ons I figured that was a helluva deal..

 

wow...bit disapointing but thanks for the clarification.

 

shocks....if you have rancho (2002-early 2003) or bilstein (mid 03 - present) you have an fx4. XLT's have plain gray shocks from factory.

 

I wondering if you can just go into a dealership or maybe find a site online that will show you the original windows sticker, or what should have been on it based on your VIN.

 

I'm gonna make a phone call on that. I think OASIS will tell you all of that info based on VIN. i'll repost as soon as i find out...

 

ok, i have everything i need to get any info you guys could ever want for your ford trucks/cars....if you need something just pm and let me know....i can look it up

 

The 2002 FX4 Off-Road had Bilsteins just as the 2003-on FX4 Level IIs have.
http://www.off-road.com/fordracing/fx4/

2003 and later FX4 Off-Roads do not have Bilsteins. They have an uprated gas shock like the ORP package had through 2002.

I have never seen a Ranger with factory Ranchos but the F150 FX4 has them.

 

the f150 fx4's dont have ranchos anymore..they stopped that after the first year of the fx4. they found that the blue and yellow bilsteins worked alot better and were cheaper to buy....

 

you kinda contradicted yourself on this one

my shocks are black. i swear the previous owner stripped my truck or the dealer did before it was sold to me. i got a towing package(have the light harness to prove it) but no hitch. i wish i had a copy of that sheet.

 

Every Ranger comes with the trailer light wiring harness...towing package or not.

 

 

Nope. Read it again CAREFULLY.

The 2002 FX4 Off-Road is very similar to 2003+ FX4 Level IIs.
The 2003+ FX4 Off-Road is very different from 2002 FX4 Off Road.

2002 ORPs have 'premium gas shocks'
2002 FX4 Off-Road have Bilstein shocks
2003+ FX4 Level IIs have Bilstein shocks
2003+ FX4 Off-Road have 'premium gas shocks'

 

Lone, based on everything you've said here and in the past, I'm pretty sure you have a 2002 XLT Ranger w/ the Off Road Package (ORP).. Roughly equivalent to the current model year FX4 (non-LII) package.

 

thanks for the clarification guys. i can still call my truck an fx4 right? it does have the now fx4 equipment on it lol

 

Chris, I looked at your CarDomain and it is definitely not a 2002 FX4 or any year FX4 Level II. It is an XLT 4x4.

Your truck vs. 2002 FX4

Gray interior Black or tan interior
Gray valance and flares Black valance and flares
Single black manual shifter twin chrome shifters
Shift-on-the-fly **** on the radio bezel Manual transfer case floor shifter
4x4 sticker on tailgate No tailgate sticker on FX4
No stickers on bed sides "FX4 Off Road" stickers on bedsides
Black front tow loops Stainless front tow hooks
Bright Island Blue paint Black, Red, Silver or Deep Wedgewood Blue
16" Teardrop aluminum wheels 15" Alcoa forged wheels with eight holes
No front skid plate Front skid plate

There are many other differences as well but they are not visible in your photos.

 

You need to go get some money back. Clearly the Dealer charged you for something you do not have. Time to sue!!!

 

^^^actually i got a great deal on the truck. 2002 with a little over 28 on the odo. and in extremely clean, excellent condition. they asked 17,000 for it. and its a 4x4 4.0L...those are few and far between around here.

 

You can call your truck anything you please as far as I'm concerned.
Oh man! 4.0L + 4x4 + extended cab (often 4 door) are like water around here. By far the most common configuration, and Rangers are by far the most comon mini-pickup. Of course that doesn't bode well for resale values..

 

^^^around here its 4-bangers or 3.0L standard cab 2wd, the lower version. few edges and ive only seen one version of my truck. (xlt 4x4 sonic blue)